< Isaya 43 >
1 Lakini sasa hili ndilo asemalo Bwana, yeye aliyekuumba, ee Yakobo, yeye aliyekuhuluku, ee Israeli: “Usiogope kwa maana nimekukomboa, nimekuita wewe kwa jina lako, wewe u wangu.
But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and He that formed thee, O Israel: Fear not, for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name, thou art Mine.
2 Unapopita kwenye maji makuu, nitakuwa pamoja nawe, unapopita katika mito ya maji, hayatakugharikisha. Utakapopita katika moto, hutaungua, miali ya moto haitakuunguza.
When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee, and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee; when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned, neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
3 Kwa kuwa Mimi ndimi Bwana, Mungu wako, yeye Aliye Mtakatifu wa Israeli, Mwokozi wako. Ninaitoa Misri kuwa fidia yako, Kushi na Seba badala yako.
For I am the LORD thy God, The Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour; I have given Egypt as thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee.
4 Kwa kuwa wewe ni wa thamani na wa kuheshimiwa machoni pangu, nami kwa kuwa ninakupenda, nitatoa watu badala yako na mataifa badala ya maisha yako.
Since thou art precious in My sight, and honourable, and I have loved thee; therefore will I give men for thee, and peoples for thy life.
5 Usiogope, kwa kuwa mimi nipo pamoja nawe, nitawaleta watoto wako kutoka mashariki, na kukukusanya kutoka magharibi.
Fear not, for I am with thee; I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west;
6 Nitaiambia kaskazini, ‘Watoe!’ nayo kusini, ‘Usiwazuie.’ Walete wana wangu kutoka mbali, na binti zangu kutoka miisho ya dunia:
I will say to the north: 'Give up,' and to the south: 'Keep not back, bring My sons from far, and My daughters from the end of the earth;
7 kila mmoja ambaye ameitwa kwa Jina langu, niliyemuumba kwa utukufu wangu, niliyemhuluku na kumfanya.”
Every one that is called by My name, and whom I have created for My glory, I have formed him, yea, I have made him.'
8 Uwaongoze wale wenye macho lakini hawaoni, wenye masikio lakini hawasikii.
The blind people that have eyes shall be brought forth, and the deaf that have ears.
9 Mataifa yote yanakutanika pamoja, na makabila yanakusanyika. Ni nani miongoni mwao aliyetangulia kutuambia haya, na kututangazia mambo yaliyopita? Walete mashahidi wao ili kuwathibitisha kuwa walikuwa sahihi, ili wengine waweze kusikia, waseme, “Ni kweli.”
All the nations are gathered together, and the peoples are assembled; who among them can declare this, and announce to us former things? Let them bring their witnesses, that they may be justified; and let them hear, and say: 'It is truth.'
10 “Ninyi ni mashahidi wangu,” asema Bwana, “na mtumishi wangu niliyemchagua, ili mpate kunijua na kuniamini, na kutambua kwamba Mimi ndiye. Kabla yangu hakuna mungu aliyefanyizwa, wala hatakuwepo mwingine baada yangu.
Ye are My witnesses, saith the LORD, and My servant whom I have chosen; that ye may know and believe Me, and understand that I am He; before Me there was no God formed, neither shall any be after Me.
11 Mimi, naam mimi, ndimi Bwana, zaidi yangu hakuna mwokozi.
I, even I, am the LORD; and beside Me there is no saviour.
12 Nimedhihirisha, kuokoa na kutangaza: Mimi, wala si mungu mgeni katikati yenu. Ninyi ni mashahidi wangu,” asema Bwana, “kwamba Mimi ndimi Mungu.
I have declared, and I have saved, and I have announced, and there was no strange god among you; therefore ye are My witnesses, saith the LORD, and I am God.
13 Naam, tangu siku za kale, Mimi ndiye. Hakuna hata mmoja awezaye kuokoa kutoka mkononi wangu. Mimi ninapotenda, ni nani awezaye kutangua?”
Yea, since the day was I am He, and there is none that can deliver out of My hand; I will work, and who can reverse it?
14 Hili ndilo Bwana asemalo, Mkombozi wako, yeye Aliye Mtakatifu wa Israeli: “Kwa ajili yenu nitatumana Babeli na kuwaleta Wakaldayo wote kama wakimbizi, katika meli walizozionea fahari.
Thus saith the LORD, your Redeemer, The Holy One of Israel: For your sake I have sent to Babylon, and I will bring down all of them as fugitives, even the Chaldeans, in the ships of their shouting.
15 Mimi ndimi Bwana, yeye Aliye Mtakatifu wako, Muumba wa Israeli, Mfalme wako.”
I am the LORD, your Holy One, the Creator of Israel, your King.
16 Hili ndilo asemalo Bwana, yeye aliyefanya njia baharini, mahali pa kupita kwenye maji mengi,
Thus saith the LORD, who maketh a way in the sea, and a path in the mighty waters;
17 aliyeyakokota magari ya vita na farasi, jeshi pamoja na askari wa msaada, nao wakalala huko, wala hawatainuka tena kamwe, wakakomeshwa, na wakazimika kama utambi:
Who bringeth forth the chariot and horse, the army and the power — they lie down together, they shall not rise, they are extinct, they are quenched as a wick:
18 “Msiyakumbuke mambo yaliyopita, wala msiyatafakari mambo ya zamani.
Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.
19 Tazama, nitafanya jambo jipya! Sasa litachipuka, je, hamtalitambua? Nitafanya njia jangwani na vijito vya maji katika nchi kame.
Behold, I will do a new thing; now shall it spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.
20 Wanyama wa mwituni wataniheshimu, mbweha na bundi, kwa sababu ninawapatia maji jangwani, na vijito katika nchi kame, ili kuwapa watu wangu maji, wale niliowachagua,
The beasts of the field shall honour Me, the jackals and the ostriches; because I give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to My people, Mine elect;
21 watu wale niliowaumba kwa ajili yangu, ili wapate kutangaza sifa zangu.
The people which I formed for Myself, that they might tell of My praise.
22 “Hata hivyo hukuniita mimi, ee Yakobo, hujajitaabisha kwa ajili yangu, ee Israeli.
Yet thou hast not called upon Me, O Jacob, neither hast thou wearied thyself about Me, O Israel.
23 Hujaniletea kondoo kwa ajili ya sadaka za kuteketezwa, wala kuniheshimu kwa dhabihu zako. Sikukulemea kwa sadaka za nafaka wala kukuchosha kwa kuhitaji uvumba.
Thou hast not brought Me the small cattle of thy burnt-offerings; neither hast thou honoured Me with thy sacrifices. I have not burdened thee with a meal-offering, nor wearied thee with frankincense.
24 Hukuninunulia uvumba wowote wenye manukato, wala hukunipa kwa ukarimu mafuta ya wanyama wa dhabihu zako. Lakini umenilemea kwa dhambi zako, na kunitaabisha kwa makosa yako.
Thou hast bought Me no sweet cane with money, neither hast thou satisfied Me with the fat of thy sacrifices; but thou hast burdened Me with thy sins, thou hast wearied Me with thine iniquities.
25 “Mimi, naam mimi, ndimi nizifutaye dhambi zako, kwa ajili yangu mwenyewe, wala sizikumbuki dhambi zako tena.
I, even I, am He that blotteth out thy transgressions for Mine own sake; and thy sins I will not remember.
26 Tafakari mambo yaliyopita, njoo na tuhojiane, leta shauri lako uweze kupewa haki yako.
Put Me in remembrance, let us plead together; declare thou, that thou mayest be justified.
27 Baba yako wa kwanza alitenda dhambi, wasemaji wako wameasi dhidi yangu.
Thy first father sinned, and thine intercessors have transgressed against Me.
28 Kwa hiyo nitawaaibisha wakuu wa Hekalu lako, nami nitamtoa Yakobo aangamizwe, na Israeli adhihakiwe.
Therefore I have profaned the princes of the sanctuary, and I have given Jacob to condemnation, and Israel to reviling.